Manage the Database Engine services
Applies to: 
SQL Server
SQL Server runs on the operating systems as a service. A service is a type of application that runs in the system background. Services usually provides core operating system features, such as Web serving, event logging, or file serving. Services can run without showing a user interface on the computer desktop. The SQL Server Database Engine, SQL Server Agent, and several other SQL Server components run as services. These services typically are started when the operating system starts. This depends on what is specified during setup; some services aren't started by default. This section describes the management of the various SQL Server services. Before you log in to an instance of SQL Server, you need to know how to start, stop, pause, resume, and restart an instance of SQL Server. After you're logged in, you can perform tasks such as administering the server or querying a database.
Use the SQL Server service
When you start an instance of SQL Server Database Engine, you're starting the SQL Server service. After you start the SQL Server service, users can establish new connections to the server. The SQL Server service can be started and stopped as a service, either locally or remotely. The SQL Server service is referred to as SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER) if it's the default instance, or MSSQL$<instancename> if it's a named instance.
Use SQL Server Configuration Manager
SQL Server Configuration Manager allows you to stop, start, or pause various SQL Server services.
Note
SQL Server Configuration Manager can't manage SQL Server 2000 (8.x) services.
You can also use SQL Server Configuration Manager to view the properties of the selected service. SQL Server Configuration Manager is a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in. For more information about MMC and how a snap-in works, see Windows Help.
On the Start menu, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft SQL Server, point to Configuration Tools, and then select SQL Server Configuration Manager.
Because SQL Server Configuration Manager is a snap-in for the Microsoft Management Console program and not a stand-alone program, SQL Server Configuration Manager doesn't appear as an application in newer versions of Windows.
| Operating system | Details |
|---|---|
| Windows 10 and Windows 11 | To open SQL Server Configuration Manager, on the Start Page, type SQLServerManager16.msc (for SQL Server 2022 (16.x)). For other versions of SQL Server, replace 16 with the appropriate number. Selecting SQLServerManager16.msc opens the Configuration Manager. To pin the Configuration Manager to the Start Page or Task Bar, right-click SQLServerManager16.msc, and then select Open file location. In the Windows File Explorer, right-click SQLServerManager16.msc, and then select Pin to Start or Pin to taskbar. |
| Windows 8 | To open SQL Server Configuration Manager, in the Search charm, under Apps, type SQLServerManager<version>.msc, such as SQLServerManager16.msc, and then press Enter. |
Manage services
- Broadcast a Shutdown Message (Command Prompt)
- Change server authentication mode
- Configure file system permissions for Database Engine access
- Configure Windows service accounts and permissions
- Database Engine Service startup options
- Log In to an Instance of SQL Server (Command Prompt)
- Run SQL Server With or Without a Network
- Security Requirements for Managing Services
- Single-user mode for SQL Server
- SQL Server Browser Service (Database Engine and SSAS)
- SQL Server Configuration Manager: Change the password of the accounts used
- SQL Server Configuration Manager: Change the service startup account
- SQL Server Configuration Manager: Configure server startup options
- SQL Server Configuration Manager: Configure SQL Server error logs
- SQL Server Configuration Manager: Connect to another computer
- SQL Server Configuration Manager: Prevent automatic startup of an instance
- SQL Server Configuration Manager: Set an instance to start automatically
- SQL Writer service
- Start SQL Server with Minimal Configuration
- Start, stop, pause, resume, and restart SQL Server services